County Sets Hearings On Districting, Executive

April 9, 1985|By Paul Stern, Staff Writer

In a surprising turnaround from its stance in previous years, the Broward County Commission today unanimously agreed to hold public hearings to consider creating single-member commisssion districts and an elected county executive.

``I would be willing to address the issue while it`s hot,`` said Commissioner Howard Craft, one of five Democrats on the commisison who voted to hold one or two discussions on the subject begining in May. Commissioner Nicki Grossman did not attend this morning`s discussion.

``That`s really where this issue belongs -- with the people,`` added Commissioner Marcia Beach, another Democrat and a longtime advocate of both single-member districts and a county executive.

Only Commission Chairman Scott Cowan spoke strongly aginst single-member districts, but even he said the issue needs to be publicly aired.

``I don`t think single-member districts can help Broward County whatsoever,`` said Cowan. ``Our concern up here is regional issues. We ought to be elected regionally.``

The only advantage to single-member districts, Cowan said, would be to guarantee minority access to government, but he said that would require expanding the County Commission to 12 to 14 members.

Commissioner Ed Kennedy, the newest member of the commission and the only Republican, broached the long-simmering issue this morning. It had been part of his election campaign.

``The subject really evokes emotion,`` Kennedy said.

He said he personally would like to see the existing district boundaries remain intact but have a commission chairman elected for a two-year term. The interim change could be made without a charter change, he said.

Each of the seven county commissioners now is required to live in one of seven districts, but all are elected countywide. Under the single-member district concept, residents of each district would vote only for a commissioner to represent them.

Commissioniers tentatively agreed to set the first public session some time during the first two weeks of May, then to hold more talks if necessary after their summer vacation and budget deliberations in July.

It was not immediately clear what prompted the commission`s change of heart, but the League of Women Voters has recently been renewing its long interest in the subject of changing Broward`s form of government.

``This is an issue that I feel transcends party lines,`` said Commissioner Howard Forman.